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Eighteen months. Halfway between one and two. It’s crazy how fast time flies. I have been reflecting this month on how much fun this age is. With new-found independence, being out and about is much easier (or maybe I’m finally getting used to it). Maybe this is just me but I feel like 18 months is a huge milestone for being out and doing the things you used to do, pre-baby.

What to Expect:

Sleep. Toddlers still need 12-14 hours a day of sleep. Most 18 month olds are down to one nap a day in the afternoon. For us it can range from 1½-3 hour nap. Your 18 month old may have found a special stuffed animal or blanket by this age. For us it’s currently baby Minnie in honor of my husband’s Grandma Jean. Every time she loves on her Minnie we remember her ♥.

Nutrition. Three meals a day. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. And healthy snacks in between. If you are a family on the go I HIGHLY recommend these snack cups. Best five dollars ever spent, some days we use both! No spills. No mess. Kids love them! The use of plates and utensils (forks and spoons) are so fun! And they CAN do it! Practice. Practice. If you are looking for a great set of utensils check these out from Amazing Child Montessori.

By 18 months toddlers should be done with the bottle (hopefully earlier)! Practicing with an open cup when possible is important. When using sippy cups too long it can change positioning of tongue and teeth. Straw cups work better for dental health and may help with beginning speech. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting an open cup at 12 months. Open cups are great at meals while sitting, and straw cups may be great when you are out and about.

Between 16-20 oz of whole milk a day. This is about 2-2 1/2 cups of milk. Whole milk has the dietary fats for growth and brain development. This is what is recommended, however if your child eats a lot of cheese, yogurt, other dairy products they may not need a full 2 cups of milk.

Offer water in open cup or straw cup if possible throughout the day.

***Keep in mind each child develops at their own pace and is on their own journey!***

Language:

12 words or more! I’d say we are currently at 50 words/sounds with my daughter. Typically females excel in this area more quickly than boys. Boy mommas’ don’t be discouraged!

Sentences. It may be babble, babble, babble then one recognizable word. And that’s okay. It is amazing to see language develop into sentences!

Joining in on conversations. My favorite is when we have guests over and we all are laughing. As soon as everyone is done laughing my toddler begins laughing as to “join the group”. It’s adorable.

Model the correct words for your child! Instead of correcting them simply say the word with the correct pronunciation. Remember they are still practicing! Side note: If you are a fast talker, slow down when talking with your toddler. As a previous 3’s teacher I have had many kids come into preschool with speech issues because their parents talk so quickly the words blend together. This can be very difficult for a child beginning to communicate.

Music and songs. Repeating songs over and over again can expand your child’s language skills. Sing them at home in the car, watch and listen to them on YouTube or Pandora. Sing them before bed.

Social/Emotional:

Likes to hand objects to others as play.

Points or grunts to show you what they want.

Shows affection. Responds to others feelings (showing empathy).

Helps you put on clothing (pushes arm through, tries to put on pants).

Parallel play. Has friends, but play next to each other rather than with each other.

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving):

Scribbles.

Follows one-step instructions.

Plays pretend! Probably the most popular is “hello” and using anything and everything as a phone.

»Love,

Christina

Recently

Eighteen months. Halfway between one and two. It’s crazy how fast time flies. I have been reflecting this month on how much fun this age is. With new-found independence, being out and about is much easier (or maybe I’m finally getting used to it). Maybe this is just me but I feel like 18 months is a huge milestone for being out and doing the things you used to do, pre-baby.

What to Expect:

Sleep. Toddlers still need 12-14 hours a day of sleep. Most 18 month olds are down to one nap a day in the afternoon. For us it can range from 1½-3 hour nap. Your 18 month old may have found a special stuffed animal or blanket by this age. For us it’s currently baby Minnie in honor of my husband’s Grandma Jean. Every time she loves on her Minnie we remember her ♥.

Nutrition. Three meals a day. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. And healthy snacks in between. If you are a family on the go I HIGHLY recommend these snack cups. Best five dollars ever spent, some days we use both! No spills. No mess. Kids love them! The use of plates and utensils (forks and spoons) are so fun! And they CAN do it! Practice. Practice. If you are looking for a great set of utensils check these out from Amazing Child Montessori.

By 18 months toddlers should be done with the bottle (hopefully earlier)! Practicing with an open cup when possible is important. When using sippy cups too long it can change positioning of tongue and teeth. Straw cups work better for dental health and may help with beginning speech. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting an open cup at 12 months. Open cups are great at meals while sitting, and straw cups may be great when you are out and about.

Between 16-20 oz of whole milk a day. This is about 2-2 1/2 cups of milk. Whole milk has the dietary fats for growth and brain development. This is what is recommended, however if your child eats a lot of cheese, yogurt, other dairy products they may not need a full 2 cups of milk.

Offer water in open cup or straw cup if possible throughout the day.

***Keep in mind each child develops at their own pace and is on their own journey!***

Language:

12 words or more! I’d say we are currently at 50 words/sounds with my daughter. Typically females excel in this area more quickly than boys. Boy mommas’ don’t be discouraged!

Sentences. It may be babble, babble, babble then one recognizable word. And that’s okay. It is amazing to see language develop into sentences!

Joining in on conversations. My favorite is when we have guests over and we all are laughing. As soon as everyone is done laughing my toddler begins laughing as to “join the group”. It’s adorable.

Model the correct words for your child! Instead of correcting them simply say the word with the correct pronunciation. Remember they are still practicing! Side note: If you are a fast talker, slow down when talking with your toddler. As a previous 3’s teacher I have had many kids come into preschool with speech issues because their parents talk so quickly the words blend together. This can be very difficult for a child beginning to communicate.

Music and songs. Repeating songs over and over again can expand your child’s language skills. Sing them at home in the car, watch and listen to them on YouTube or Pandora. Sing them before bed.

Social/Emotional:

Likes to hand objects to others as play.

Points or grunts to show you what they want.

Shows affection. Responds to others feelings (showing empathy).

Helps you put on clothing (pushes arm through, tries to put on pants).

Parallel play. Has friends, but play next to each other rather than with each other.

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving):

Scribbles.

Follows one-step instructions.

Plays pretend! Probably the most popular is “hello” and using anything and everything as a phone.

»Love,

Christina

I’m so glad you stopped by to vitality and how to instill this intelligent quality in children. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, educator, home-visitor, parent-to-be, or a future parent we can all be thinking and pondering now how to instill these qualities in children. As I engage in this series I’m discovering more about my call as a mom and teacher. Thanks for growing with me!

The first thought that came to mind when thinking about vitality was a need for survival. While this is true, vitality goes deeper than simply the need to survive. The dictionary states that beyond the capacity for survival, vitality is also the continuation of a meaningful and/or purposeful existence. Vitality is not only the power to live but the power to grow. More than just physical strength it is also a mental vigor.

Words that correlate with Vitality:

Endurance

Spunk

Intensity

Stamina

Strength

Vigor

Exuberance

Ways to Instill Vitality in Children:

Nutrition

›Feed your children a well-balanced diet and encourage them to make nutritious food choices. Feeding your child a well rounded diet can increase their ability to learn and grow within their immediate environment.

›Model the type of eating behaviors you would like your children to develop. Children eat what they see you eating. This helps my daughter so much in trying new foods. When she sees mommy eating the same food she is, she will feel more safe to also try it (sometimes, not always).

›It may take multiple exposures to a food before a child is willing to try. On average it may take 8-12 times of seeing, playing with, and/or smelling a new food before they are willing to taste it. So yes, this means cutting, chopping, washing, and cooking several times before it is actually consumed. Don’t get frustrated, keep trying! There may be a light at the end of the tunnel or they may actually not like that particular flavor or type of food!

›Don’t buy foods with empty calories (junk food). If it’s not lying around you do not have to option to feed it to children or to eat it yourself. 😉 Empty calories do not fuel your child’s brain or body to grow in the ways they may need.

Sensory

›Sensory: Being aware of senses. Taste, Touch, Smell, Sight, Hearing. Sensory play stimulates these senses. People learn and grow well when they engage their senses. Have you ever listened to an old song and suddenly remember how you felt when you used to listen to it? Our senses are powerful! And God blessed us with 5 different ways to engage in the environment and with others.

›Sensory activities allow responsiveness to the environment. Sensory play creates a way for children to respond to their immediate environment through exploration. It allows children to grow free of thoughts or judgments. Sensory play instills vitality in children because it allows them to connect to the environment through a meaningful experience. Below are some examples of sensory play from some amazing blogs! But sensory play can be as simple as being outside or playing in a sand box. My daughter is currently fixated on bubbles! Outside bubbles, hand washing bubbles, bath bubbles.

Baby Sensory Touch and Feel board

imprintalish.blogspot.com/

Kid Sensory for Spring/Summer!

www.kidsplaybox.com/

Activity

›Help your kids off the couch and guide them to become more active.

›Being more active with your kids means modeling the active lifestyle you hope for them by being active yourself.

›Actively engaging in the environment. A child displays vitality when they are actively engaged with the environment Here is an example of an immediate response to the environment:

My daughter and I were waiting for the bride and groom to walk through the tunnel of guests blowing bubbles. There I was holding an independent toddler (husband no where in sight) in one arm and attempting to blow bubbles in the other without spilling a soapy, sticky mess all over us. I finally maneuvered to be able to blow some bubbles and no bubbles. I gave up quickly on the bubble blowing and set my toddler down into the field. Immediately she saw the flowers in the field (the white weed type flowers that actually smell pretty good, not dandelions) and bent down to explore them. I showed her how to pick them and smell them (not eat them haha). She picked flowers for a good half hour in the field.

My toddler may not have gotten to explore vitality if I whisked her away in a rush to get somewhere. Provide time for children to actively engage in the environment. Time is a precious gift we can provide for children.

Electronics

›Limit the amount of time your kids are allowed to use electronics. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests less than two hours a day of screen time for a child and none for under two. Electronics limit the ability to experience vitality.

›You hear this ALL the time. We do allow some TV at home… Ekk! And we took our 18 month old to her first movie, the Minions (it wasn’t very good I don’t recommend it. Sorry Minion lovers!). But I think the most important part is being conscious of how much time your child has spent with an electronic device or TV and really deciding what’s best for your family and what’s best for a specific child. Also being conscious of what they are watching or doing. When my daughter does watch TV it is something of value (besides the Minions, poor choice btw. We tried for Inside Out and it didn’t work out).

Higher Purpose

›Having a purposeful and meaningful existence. For our family, our purpose is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and to share the love of Christ in us with others. We are not perfect, but we know why we are here. This gives us the power to live and grow through Jesus Christ.

›While in the toddler stages I hope to teach my daughter that her existence matters, that what she does (coloring a page, building a tower, digging in the sand) is meaningful. By instilling a purpose in her at a young age and into adolescence this will stay with her throughout her life. She does matter. She was put here for a reason. She is loved by the one true God.

›What is your family’s purpose? What are your goals? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for unpacking Vitality with me. Check out other posts in Instilling Intelligent Qualities in Children Series! Comment below for other ways you have instilled this quality in children! I love hearing from you.

»Love,

Christina

From the Blog

Intelligent Qualities in Children Series: Intro
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When my LO (little one) was in her first year I used sample schedules frequently. I wanted to know what other babies were doing so I could know what to expect from my daughter and how best to plan her … [Read More...]

This month has been crazy! I'm a little late on posting this 14 month old schedule because we were out of our house for almost two and half weeks! That's a long time when you have a toddler who DOES … [Read More...]

A lot is changing and fast! I enjoy looking at each month specifically before the age of 2 because children are constantly changing. Between birth and 2 children change drastically. A few hard things … [Read More...]

I'm so glad you stopped by to vitality and how to instill this intelligent quality in children. Whether you're a parent, teacher, educator, home-visitor, parent-to-be, or a future parent we can all be … [Read More...]

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Eighteen months. Halfway between one and two. It’s crazy how fast time flies. I have been reflecting this month on how much fun this age is. With new-found independence, being out and about is much easier (or maybe I’m finally getting used to it). Maybe this is just me but I feel like 18 months is a […]

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